HAVANA (AP) - The wives and mothers of about two dozen political prisoners marched Saturday along several of the city's main avenues, singing hymns and carrying signs reading ``amnesty'' to commemorate the third anniversary of the crackdown that put their husbands behind bars.| Surprise meter jumped when I saw this in the Guardian. |
``We would never have thought this would go on for so long,'' said Laura Pollan, wife of Hector Maseda, a political prisoner who was among 75 people rounded up on March 18, 2003. He was sentenced to 20 years. ``We will continue to fight as long as he remains in prison,'' Pollan said.
The Cuban government has said the arrests were needed to protect the nation from ``mercenaries'' paid from abroad to undermine the socialist system. Cuba accused the 75 of working with the United States to undermine Castro's government - charges the activists and Washington deny. Fifteen of the original 75 have since been released on medical parole.